From Pochettino to Lampard as Tottenham ponder replacements if Conte is sacked

The Italian launched into a scathing outburst following Tottenham's 3-3 draw against Southampton on Saturday.

Advertisement

Among those to receive blazing criticism were the players, the board and the chairman Daniel Levy, who is now considering whether to sack the coach.

According to The Telegraph, the Spurs chief will take his time over the decision with the players now on international break.

Levy will consult with his closest aides at the club before choosing to axe the manager or stick by him, though Conte could leave at the end of the season anyway when his contract expires.

Advertisement

It means that whether the former Chelsea manager is dismissed or not, Tottenham might have to look elsewhere for a new coach in the near future anyway.

There are already some hot favourites to take over including Mauricio Pochettino and Thomas Tuchel while there are some outside shouts such as Luis Enrique and Brendan Rodgers.

But who could be the next Spurs manager and how would they get on?

Advertisement

Advertisement

Mauricio Pochettino

The most obvious choice right now is Pochettino, who would unite a fractured fanbase and is familiar with the club having spent five years there.

The Argentine is currently unemployed and has been linked with Premier League jobs in the past, which could indicate that he is looking to return to England.

Some of Tottenham's best moments in recent history have come under the 51-year-old, including a Champions League final in 2019, while he lasted just 18 months in charge of Paris Saint-Germain.

Advertisement

But would a return be the best option for all parties? There was a reason why Levy sacked Pochettino in the first place and returning to your old club is rarely a successful move.

It might also require Levy to swallow his pride having sacked him four years ago while it does not evoke a feeling of much progression made if the old coach is being drafted back in.

Brendan Rodgers

Advertisement

Leicester are having a disappointing campaign and find themselves in a relegation battle while the fans have started to turn on Rodgers, who has already told to leave by portions of the support.

It would, therefore, be quite the move to go from the King Power Stadium to Tottenham while his stock is low and might not inspire much confidence from the supporters.

But there is no denying that Rodgers can build an exciting and attacking team, doing so at Liverpool and Leicester before this season's malaise crept in.

The Reds narrowly missed out on the Premier League under his stewardship while the Foxes were even competing for the Champions League for two years, also winning the FA Cup.

Advertisement

However, Spurs do not need another 'nearly' man and while attractive football might win over some fans, the desperation for a trophy reeks more.

While he has won a cup for Leicester, there have been signs of mental cracks in teams under Rodgers in the past and that is already a clear problem at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Thomas Tuchel

Advertisement

Who can deliver trophies, attacking football, Premier League experience and is available? Step forward, Tommy Tuchel.

The German coach has been regarded one of the best managers in the world currently after winning the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021 just months into his appointment.

Many Blues fans are yearning for his return after a stuttering season under Graham Potter but new owner Todd Boehly has appeared to burned his bridges there.

But that does not mean that a return to London is off the cards as Spurs could steal in and nab the former Borussia Dortmund boss, also landing a blow to Chelsea fans that Tottenham supporters will also enjoy.

Advertisement

However, like Conte, Tuchel is not afraid to kick off with the ownership when things do not go his way and Levy might feel that after his ordeal with the Italian, as well as Jose Mourinho, he would like a coach he can work better with - not find another confrontational one.

Tottenham might also have to battle PSG for his signature, with reports that the French club are eyeing a reunion with Tuchel after yet another shoddy campaign in the Champions League with Christophe Galtier fighting for his job.

Frank Lampard

Advertisement

He couldn't, could he? It would be vastly unlikely but this is a club that have hired former Chelsea managers before.

Lampard had a disastrous time at Everton where they were free-falling this season and battling to stave away relegation with new manager Sean Dyche appearing to already install a more stoic mentality in the squad.

But the Chelsea legend's work with young players and on tight budgets cannot be understated, two things that might appeal to Levy, especially if Spurs miss out on Champions League football.

Young stars Oliver Skipp, Djed Spence, Alfie Devine, Troy Parrott and Jude Soonsup-Bell might also appreciate the arrival of Lampard, who are all top talents and would get a better chance of first-team football than under Conte.

Advertisement

However, there is more chance of Tottenham winning a trophy this season than the fans accepting such an old rival in the managerial dugout while Lampard appeared to make his thoughts clear on the matter not too long ago.

"I can firmly say no and you can replay that again in ten years. It wouldn't happen," he said in 2019 when asked about the job, but stranger things have happened in the world of football.

Luis Enrique

Advertisement

Enrique is always a name that pops up when big jobs become available in the Premier League and he seems destined to take on soon.

While in charge of Barcelona from 2014 to 2017, he coached one of the best sides ever seen - winning the Treble in 2015 - though that might be more down to the fact he had Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez up front.

Nevertheless, the Spaniard knows how to coach a winning side that can play mouth-watering football, a dream ticket for Tottenham fans - whose last Spanish manager won them a trophy in Juande Ramos.

Enrique last coached Spain, who ultimately came up short in the World Cup in Qatar when they were knocked out of the quarter-finals by Morocco in one of the shocks of the tournament.

Advertisement

That might not inspire confidence from the Spurs faithful but his links with the country can help them bring in youthful, attacking players - something the club are crying out for.

Enrique has not managed a club since Barcelona in 2017 and has no experience of the Premier League, which could work against him but might be the kind of fresh look to give Spurs a boost.

Thomas Frank

The rise of Brentford has been a multitude of factors from a brilliant backroom staff to excellent scouting but the impact of Frank cannot be understated.

Making the step up from assistant manager in October 2018, the Danish coach has led the Bees to the Premier League where they are competing for Europe this season.

And his work has not gone unnoticed with some big clubs said to be interested in snapping him up and Tottenham could be one to come knocking in the summer - or if Conte is axed earlier.

Danish journalist Troels Bager Thogersen, who is editor-in-chief at Tipsbladet, even went as far as to say that Frank will undoubtedly leave very soon, saying: "For the second Premier League season in a row, Brentford are exceeding all expectations.

"It is really, really nice to be in the best half here, where we can glimpse the end of the season. But now is also the time to move on. It cannot continue as it has gone."

There is no doubting Frank's coaching ability but his managerial prowess has been largely untested anywhere else other than Brentford at big coaching opportunities but it has worked for Spurs before when they pinched Pochettino from Southampton - could it happen again?

Roberto De Zerbi

Speaking of managers doing fine jobs in the Premier League, De Zerbi is another that has been linked with a move to Tottenham this summer with several clubs circling the Brighton boss.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Brighton CEO Paul Barber admitted he might have to swat away interest in the Italian and said: "I live my life in fear of a phone call! Every times the phone rings I'm looking and hoping that it's not from another club!"

De Zerbi has worked wonders at the Amex Stadium since replacing Graham Potter as manager in September, outperforming his predecessor who left for Chelsea.

The high point was a 4-1 mauling of the Blues when Potter made his first appearance at the south-coast club to the glee of the home fans and they have gone from strength to strength since.

The Seagulls find themselves in the semi-finals of the FA Cup and are fighting for a European spot in the Premier League, playing some beautiful football along the way.

But Spurs have a fight on if they want De Zerbi in charge as several Italian clubs such as Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan all look to make a move for the former Shakhtar boss.